The Rising Suns

A few quick thoughts

2009-05-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

Seems like forever since we've seen the Suns. I was thinking I wouldn't be that interested in the playoffs but to my surprise I've enjoyed it. The Bulls/Celtics series was an all-timer. LeBron James' nightly exploits have blown me away. I was listening to the end of Game 2 of the ECF on the radio with a buddy from Ohio when LeBron hit 'the shot.' We were both screaming. I hope they comeback against Orlando and setup up an epic Finals. James is easy to root for because he comes off as genuine, has created a fun atmosphere with his teammates and is so fun to watch. Watching the Lakers and Cavs battle would be nice but the Magic aren't too shabby either. Entertaining basketball is all we can ask for at this point since our beloved team is chilling.

So the lottery came and went. The Kings and Wizards got screwed and it further shows how the lottery works for the good and bad. Have two worse teams ever gotten the 1st and 2nd picks? The Clippers are owned by total jerk and the Grizzlies don't have a fanbase in the city they moved to. Blake Griffin and Ricky Rubio have to be hoping for trades. The Suns will get an interesting player at 14. They have two second round picks too but I think they should be active on the trade front. At 14 I think Earl Clark should be the guy. A legit 6-10 basketball player. The kid can do anything and can actually guard people. He's got a Lamar Odom written all over him. It's probably the NJ accent though. A lot of people are saying take a PG but this draft is full of point guards and why waste a pick on a PG if we're committed to Dragic and trying to extend Nash. The thing with Clark is motivation and I think playing on a team with hungry veterans helps guys realize quickly how small the opportunity is to be an elite team. Playing with Nash, Hill and Shaq would help his progress immensely. We'll see though.

A few rumblings in interviews that Amar'e is dropping hints that if the Suns don't want to win, he's outty. Heard similar overtones from Nash that he wants an idea of what the team is doing before he signs an extension to end his career in Phoenix. The Shaq trade rumors have started to bubble up as well. I can't really blame guys for being skeptical of management with how they bungled what was the best young team in the NBA. Doesn't it seem like yesterday that the Suns were the #1 overall seed in the Playoffs and taking on the mighty Spurs. Free agency is a player's leverage and they have to use it. There are plenty of cities to play and earn a fat check but veteran players want a chance to win. When the Suns stopped developing players, they killed their team and now it's a big bag of spare parts. 'Used to be' is the phrase that describes too much of our roster.

Shaq: used to be the most dominant center in the league
Nash: used to be the best point guard in the league
Hill: used to be Grant Hill
Amar'e: used to the best young big man
J-Rich: used to be the two-time slam dunk champ

Thinking about the guys that 'Used to be' Suns makes it even more depressing. Kerr has recommitted to run n' gun. That's nice. It'll keep fans in the seats and keep the Suns on TV. But we need young studs. We need players to rally around and appreciate as they grow. Draft a stud. Find a way to get Trevor Ariza. Trade Alando Tucker if you're not going to play him. Trade one of our big contract stars and get some flexibility. Do something to make us see this team as something other than a sinking ship with players waiting to dive off in 2010.

A few thoughts on the future

2009-04-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

I have sporadic internet access at the moment but here's some food for thought that I'll write more on later.

Grant Hill possibly returning

Alvin Gentry possibly returning

UPDATE
I officially gave up hope after the crushing OT loss to Utah last Saturday. That followed by the stinker in Sacramento was it. Today's nationally televised blowout in Dallas simply gave the jerks at ESPN ample opportunity to pick at the Suns as they fade into the lottery.

I find it funny how Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and Jon Barry can espouse at length on what it takes to win an NBA title when none played or coached on a title team. Listening to Jackson and Van Gundy complain about how bad the Suns and Mavericks are was inexcusable given that they get paid to be there. Fans of both teams are watching and these guys sound like grumpy New Yorkers who didn't want to make a trip to the South. I've hated ESPN/ABC's coverage for a while and it seems to be getting worse. One thing I liked about watching the NBA Finals in Europe last year was having no idea what the Portuguese announcers were saying. I could watch the game without Jackson's fortune cookie observations and Van Gundy surliness. If it's Kobe vs Lebron this year, I might have to mute and hope Dr. Jack Ramsey is on the radio.

Since the season is going to end a lot earlier than we've grown accustomed to now is as good a time as any to think about the draft. With Suns all but mathematically locked into the 14 spot, I think they can get a rotation worthy player with shrewd scouting. One player I really like is Sam Young of Pittsburgh. He knows how to play. We were watching tourney games a couple weeks ago and he was involved in every play down the stretch as Pitt pulled out a tough win. He makes spectacular plays and the little plays that don't show up in the box score. Blocking a layup after a foul to prevent a three-point play and then the player misses a free throw. Runs a late in the shot clock inbounds play to perfection with an assist while simultaneously screening two guys to give his teammate an open shot. He can guard guys bigger than him, he's explosive and runs the floor well. He's a senior and a little older than others in this draft class but I don't see how that hurts him. He's the type of player you can see playing on a winning team.

We won't have a clear draft picture until May 19. Players have until April 26 to declare and the lottery drawing is May 19. While it would be a miracle of sorts if the Suns slips into the top 3, they can start the rebuilding process with a good pick at 14. This offseason will be interesting.

Alvin Gentry has gotten a lot out of this group, especially bench players who gathered dust under Terry Porter. He seems like a great choice to coach this team going forward. We'll see what Sarver and Kerr do. They could go in another direction and pay a retread to install a new system with a new roster.

Steve Nash and Grant Hill could return or be let go or traded to chase rings. While I really like both players in Phoenix, I'm rooting for them individually to win it all as well. There are plenty of great players who never won rings but I really want it for Nash. As mentioned before, I've been watching him since I was high school including watching him play in-person in the NCAA tournament. He's my favorite player.

Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal have value and big salaries so their names will come up often in trade rumors. I personally think the Suns will pounce on a draft-pick or young-player laden trade offer this summer for one or both. While the Suns may continue to be an uptempo team, there will be some sort of moves made that balance out the roster with youth and players who excel on defense.

The pressure is really only on one person: Steve Kerr. All the main players on his roster a proven commodities. This season has proven that the Suns had a tenuous yet effective balance between their stars and role players under D'Antoni. The Gentry mini-era has proved that only the role players on this team will guard anyone. We've seen lineups with Jared Dudley and Louis Amundson make runs because they make scrappy plays on defense that feed the break and keep the tempo up. With the firepower this team has, it only takes a commitment from the stars to play come defense. Nash is a bad defender because he's small but he's usually one of the league leaders in charges taken. The reality shortcuts the effort. With Amare and Shaq, they're huge but they don't bring the type of energy a player like Tyrus Thomas, Paul Millsapp or even Samuel Dalembert brings on a consistent basis. Big men are a precious commodity in the NBA and it really hurt Phoenix this season that they have two that are poor on defense. It's up to Steve Kerr to commit to a vision for this team and execute the moves to bring it to fruition. Robert Sarver is watching that balance sheet closely and losing don't sell tickets

As we move further away from the suspension series, it seems that Horry hip-check changed the direction of this franchise. The Suns have not caught a break or made a smart move since. With the Lakers dominating the West, Portland poised to add the final piece and the Nonics two drafts away from completely dominating the league- the Suns need some luck, some smarts and an infusion of youth to be an elite team again. I'll keep following but honestly I can't wait for football to start.

Die Hard

2009-03-25T23:39:00.001-07:00

So I was going to write about the tournament and players I'd like to see in purple and orange next year. Then the Suns went into Die Hard mode and have put together a win streak in the face of being a lottery team.

I love points. I love the exciting finishes. I'm loving the bench guys making plays. I look forward to watching my team play again.

Worst Case Scenario

2009-03-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

We needed a good road trip to keep the playoffs in sight. The Suns lost four toughly contested games, finding new ways to lose each one. They went cold in Orlando. They couldn't get a stop in Miami. They couldn't get the last shot to drop in Houston. They were out-executed in the clutch in San Antonio.

At this point it looks bleak for the Suns making the playoffs. The team hasn't quit. Nash is making plays, Shaq is still a force and different role players are contributing something each night. But this trip was a chance to step up to another level and really strengthen their case as a playoff contender. Unfortunately nothing good came out of it.

The Suns lost ground on the inconsistent Mavericks. We got word Amare Stoudemire is officially out until next season (even though it was highly unlikely he'd return). The Suns are four games back of the Mavs who currently reside in the 8 spot (aka the 'get housed by the Lakers' slot). They play two more times, including Tuesday night in Phoenix.

The team is not terrible. If they were in the East, they'd be battling for homecourt advantage in the first round. But Phoenix is in the West, where you need 50 wins to get into the party.

So maybe it's time to start thinking about the lottery. Here's the reality, as I've mentioned before. The Suns are going to battle until the season ends which means they'll be the best nonplayoff team. So the Suns are practically guaranteed (98.2% chance) of getting the 14th pick in the draft. If they don't get that pick- it'll be in the top 3 of the draft (1.8% chance of that happening). Is there a player out there who can have an instant impact at 14? Is there a rotation player that can be developed at 14? Even better question, what type of team are the Suns going to be going forward?

The Steve Kerr era has been a failure. This talented yet aging team continues to lose tough games and see a playoff run slip away. If Kerr has a strategy after the stutter-step mess this season has been, we'll see it deployed this offseason. Not sure how much faith I have in Kerr to rebuild this team quickly but perhaps some luck may finally give this franchise a boost.

Seven Seconds or Shaq

2009-03-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

Steve logs on to FML and types. "I traded my backup power forward because he hated our new coach and was overpaid as a backup. The team plays awful under my hand-picked coach who's a friend and former teammate and I fire him. I promote an assistant who brings back the old style. My All Star power forward goes down for the season after we decide not to trade him for draft picks and expiring contracts. His eye injury is the continuation of a training camp injury dealt by the backup I traded. F my life."

Seven Seconds or Shaq
This is the Suns hope for the remainder of the season. If the early offense isn't there, dump it down to the Big Cactus. The fact of the matter is we have a guy who really wants to win another title... who's done it before. We have two guys who are desperate to win a title before their stellar careers come to a close. Shaq is rested from having sat out all the back to backs early in the season. He's been rejuvinated by the training staff. Now the team really needs him. Some nights, they'll run people off the floor. Other nights Shaq will have to dominate for the Suns to win. He passes well out of the post. He's hitting a decent percentage of his free throws. He's probably as funny as he's ever been.

The Suns victory over LA today was their best of the season for many reasons. They were missing Steve Nash and dependent on Shaq and someone else to step-up. Matt Barnes after saying the Suns owed the Lakers one, has his best game of the season. The Suns built a lead and rebuilt it after a furious Laker rally. The Suns also goaded Kobe into 38 shots. Kobe put it on him today and kept firing until he had 49 points and a 2nd straight loss.

So the Suns are 6-2 in their quest to go (at least) 22-9, secure 50 wins and hopefully a playoff berth. The warmups against the Clippers and Nonics are nice but the Suns will have to get playoff-quality wins to get into the playoffs. It's time to start playing to the strengths and fight like this season is not lost. Hearing so many Laker fans in the crowd on national TV was a disgrace. This team needs it's fans back. If the Suns are going to beat the mountain of odds building against them, they need all the help they can get.

Stoudemire out with injured eye

2009-02-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

All the excitement from the run n' gun blowouts is now tempered with a bit a bad news. Amare had to have surgery for a partially detached retina and will miss up eight weeks. During his monster 42-point game against the Clippers, Amare appeared to have hurt the eye defending Al Thornton on a dunk attempt when Thornton hit him in the face with his left hand.

I think we'll definitely see a return of the goggles when Amare returns. However a return this year means the Sun have to make the playoffs. Good thing they didn't trade Shaq yesterday. The bench will have to step up to replace the production but Amare was one of the Suns matchup advantages especially in the SSOL offense. Let's see if they nab a big like Mikki Moore who was waived or if Courtney Sims actually dresses for the team now.

Sprint to the finish line

2009-02-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

Last night's game against the Clippers was X-rated. There are wins, there are blowouts and there are X-rated affairs like last night.

It was enjoyable to see the Suns running and gunning again. Dropping a 140 spot on the hapless Clippers was a nice way to open the stretch run and hopefully send a message to the Western conference. At this point no one is picking Phoenix to do anything. B-Ball analysts are gloating for picking against the Suns and dissing Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver like they are Dumb and Dumber.

At this point, I can't help but think about the season preview:

So my theme for this season is Die Hard. This season is for the Die Hard fans. The folks who'll keep rooting for the Suns through it all and who'll love it the most when we get that first ring. Hopefully the Suns will show some John McClane perseverance through all the challenges this season. Hopefully the Phoenix Suns will be the team that's the hardest to finish off. If they can do that, regardless of when the season ends- we'll be inspired.

We need this team to run, we need them to play loose and crazy, we need them to be who they are. As much as people hated the Shaq trade, I hope his energy and leadership really shine through down the stretch. After he was the star of All Star weekend, Shaq is rejuvenated for one last run to glory. In a hilarious appearance on NBA TV last night (if you're missing Fan Night on Tuesday, you are really missing out) he said at best they can finish 26-5 at worst 22-9. That may be good enough to nab homecourt in the first round. So far it's 1-0 and with Zach Randolph getting himself suspended, it should be 2-0 after tonight a rematch with the Clippers.

Three thoughts...
The talking heads are doubting the return of Seven Seconds or Less (SSOL) because the Suns have lost shooters. I like the approach they used last night. Run for layups. They scored 90 points in the paint. The Clippers scored 100 total. With the finishers they have on this team, they can run for layups and midrange shots and be just as effective. Amare didn't take a jumper from what I remember. Plus J-Rich, LB and Nash can shoot and Barnes will break out of his funk at some point.

The bench has to give the Suns something if they are going to avoid burnout. Nash is the motor here and there has to be some playmaking when he takes a seat. It's almost better that they haven't been running all season as they may be peaking when the playoffs start. I hope last night was a building block for Dragic. Getting into the lane puts a lot more pressure on defense than dribble, dribble, start the offense. He was playing not to make mistakes because Porter had him on a short leash. Last night, he wasn't hesitating and pounced on opportunities including a monster dunk. We know what to expect from Amundson, LB and even Barnes at this point. Dragic is a wild card but we've seen players confidence grow in this system before, let's hope it happens again.

Besides the Lakers at 1, no other spots in the West are locks. New Orleans is playing slower ~~and just traded Tyson Chandler~~. Houston just lost McGrady for the year. Portland is young. Dallas is old. San Antonio is not as solid defensively. Utah is still missing Boozer and Kirilenko and they're awful on the road. LA and Denver have a few warts too. There are opportunities to be had, let's see if Phoenix can rise in the standings.

Terry Porter: I'm out

2009-02-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Terry Porter has announced he's been fired as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. This may have been the worst kept secret over All Star weekend. It was accurately leaked on RealGm on Thursday, reporters were referencing that inside source by Friday, and TNT's Craig Sager jumped Shaq with that story during the game on Sunday.

I went into Porter's failings in my previous post. What's bound to come out now is more stories about how Porter treated this team. He apparently wasn't well liked at all and had very questionable motivational methods. It is interesting what will be done now as far as trades. The financial situation hasn't changed and there are plenty of sharks in the water ready to pounce on Amare at bargain price.

There have been a lot of stories this weekend skewering Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver for how they've handled this team on their own. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see they haven't made any moves to build on the momentum of the back to back WCF appearances in 05 and 06. At this point, do you want to see the team completely blow it up or try to nab a low playoff seed and almost certain first round elimination? Or is there still some chance they can put together a run for the ages?

Eyes on Phoenix

2009-02-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

Eyes around the NBA are focused on Phoenix. It used to be because the Suns would be in the top 2-3 teams in the Western Conference heading into the All Star break. Now the Suns are hosting the game. Instead of showcasing the city and franchise, it's a distraction from what's wrong with the Suns. Let's investigate a bit:

1. Terry Porter
No coach in the league has a tougher job. Unfortunately for Porter, the degree of difficulty doesn't reduce the accountability for the team's performance. The system he's implemented hasn't worked. Players have complained publicly, malcontents were traded, every NBA analyst has an opinion and most importantly in this business- fans aren't happy. The teams hasn't won more than three consecutive games at any point this season. The scoring is down, the games are slower and the team is struggling against good teams and middle of the road teams. The team is fighting for the eight spot when the bottom of the West is plagued with injuries and any spot up to four can be had with a winning streak. Translation: Porter is compromising what he wants to do with a roster that was built for a different coach and tweaked by his general manager.

2. Emphasis on defense
Suns junkies remember all the hype after the Porter hire about the team focusing more on defense. We all remember how Dallas tweaked a few things, changed coaches, made a couple of smart minor moves and got to the Finals. It seemed that way in training camp, when Porter stopped the scrimmages because there was too much scoring and saying "That's not our identity." Porter's Suns are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Shaq doesn't even extend to shooters on the pick n' roll. Amare still doesn't fully understand help principles. Their best individual defender at this point is Grant Hill, who's 36. The team may give up slightly fewer points per game but they play at a slower pace and the point differential is much smaller. Translation: I wouldn't trust this team to guard a swimming pool.

3. New offensive offense
This one rubs a lot of people the wrong way. All one has to do is watch the game Sunday versus Detroit and tonight versus Philadelphia. Fact: Steve Nash is the common link between 6 of the last 7 top scoring offenses (last year, missed it by .9). So the new coach decides to make a healthy Shaquille O'Neal the focal point of the offense. The Nash and Amare pick n' roll has made token early appearances but mainly only showed up late in games. The fast breaking after makes disappeared. This team doesn't force any turnovers to speak of so the break dried up. Best offensive point guard of the decade, 2-time MVP relegated to feed the post on a team full of players built to run. So against Detroit, the team pushed at every opportunity, Nash picked the Pistons apart en route to 21 assists. Tonight, the Suns were run off the floor by the Sixers fueled by 18 turnovers. Shaq had no lift and Porter threw in the towel in third quarter down 14 points. The pick n' roll with Amare is still rarely used. Amare is often handed the ball at the elbow and asked to make a play. LB once again is being asked to run the 2nd unit and his inability to create for others is still a glaring weakness. Translation: the team can run half-court sets but making that the primary focus on a team with Steve Nash is dumb.

4. Trade rumors
Because of the places I've lived, I've mostly had to watch on League Pass over the last few years. I saw the Nash/D'Antoni version of the Suns play for the first in person 12/23/04. Joe Johnson had an awful night, Stoudemire ( who was practicing nothing but midrange jumpers before the game) had a great night, Nash had 17 and 14, D'Antoni barely used his bench and the Suns beat the Grizzlies to go to 23-3. The next game I saw in person was 4/19/08. Game 1 of the Spurs series last season. Best game I've attended in any sport and it broke my heart. D'Antoni's team left it on the floor but once again he was outcoached, far too familiar of a refrain during his tenure. Long lead-in for my point but think about all the changes between those two games. Nash wins two MVPs, Amare is All NBA after microfracture, Joe Johnson traded for Boris Diaw, LB goes from scrub to sixth man of the year, Steven Hunter leaves in free agency, Q Rich traded for Kurt Thomas, Kurt Thomas and draft picks given away, Casey Jacobsen traded for Jim Jackson, Jim Jackson traded for nothing, Shawn Marion traded for Shaquille O'Neal plus the selling of James Jones and the draft picks that turned into Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, Luol Deng and Rajon Rondo. Now Amare is on the block. Two thoughts here. 1. How many times did the roster reshuffle around Stockton and Malone before they reached the NBA Finals? They were the only constant between the teams that made the Conference Finals in 91-92 and the Finals for the second time in 97-98. 2. With all the change within this organization just in the last 5 years (ownership, general manager, coach), what are the Suns going to build around? What is their plan?

Trading Amare or Shaq is a salary dump, plain and simple. The team clearly doesn't expect to compete for a championship at this point. Unless sliding into the 8 spot to stop the Laker juggernaut is what the team is aiming for. Kerr may be trying to back track to use Amare to make up for mistakes he and his predecessors have made. However getting All Star players requires luck and skill and Amare is the only one the Suns have been right about that's still on their roster. Translation: The road to hell is paved with good intentions, apparently so is the path to mediocrity.

5. C.R.E.A.M
I got a message from a friend who's a season ticket holder. Apparently fans have starting skipping games and the USAC is partially full for weekend games. For an ownership group so reluctant to lose money, rebuilding is not a pleasant prospect. Getting out of luxury tax territory is a goal for Sarver et al but losing playoff money will hurt especially if season ticket renewals go down or the Suns can't increase ticket prices. The word in the past is teams get about $1 million per playoff game, but that's inaccurate because the league takes a cut and visitors get a cut during long series. But the extra ticket revenue from making the playoffs helps with critical extra income. It convinces fans it is worthwhile to support a team. Watching the league pass games, I see a lot of empty seats at NBA arenas. Fans getting priced out of games is not a new story but in this tight economy, I think good teams are going to be a lot more reluctant to lose, unless of course it's cheap. Even though the Lakers sucked after trading Shaq, they only missed the playoffs once and Kobe missed a ton of games to injury. The Knicks are unlike any other franchise in the league, so they manage. The Suns need to keep a competitive team on the floor. Translation: Robert Sarver's efforts to save money cost this team a title and will ultimately cost him more money as this franchise loses value.

It sucks we're on the verge of seeing this team completely blown up but sports can break your heart. A lot of sports talk is just a long discussion about 'almost.' You know the Sun Devils almost won the national title with Jake the Snake. The Suns almost won a title with Seven Seconds or Less. The Cardinals almost won the Superbowl. The Patriots almost went 19-0. It's just a matter of if we want to keep watching... and paying.

I give up

2009-02-04T21:59:00.001-08:00

When was the last time you saw a 60-point swing? How about in the last two Suns games. From the complete domination of the awful Sacramento Kings on Monday, the Suns were torched by Golden State 124-112 Wednesday night.

Golden State came out firing and jumped out to a 17-2 lead. There were mismatches in the Suns' favor all over the floor but the Warriors exploited Amare Stoudemire with Kelenna Azubuike going for 19 in the first quarter, 25 for the game. Stephen Jackson went for his first career triple double too.

It's become an all too familiar refrain.

" ____ is having a career night."

"That's a season high for the _______."

"The Suns just don't look like the same team."

While there are several gripes about players, I'm thoroughly convinced Terry Porter was the wrong choice as a coach. If I hear about another meeting, I'm gonna puke. Just watch the team play. The Warriors were launching jumpers all night and hitting them. The Suns cut the lead to 11 late in the third quarter and Porter goes ZONE!?! 14-4 run including two 3-pointers and the Suns are down 21 at the end of the quarter.

While it did appear the refs were just collecting paychecks tonight, the Suns were outplayed and outcoached again. Golden State didn't play their 8th guy until that run late in the third. After the game, Jackson admitted he was surprised at how little Phoenix used Stoudemire (13 pts, 4-8 FG, 5-6 FT). It just wasn't clear at any point what the Suns were doing and the sense of urgency and defense were AWOL again.

The Suns are a shell of what they were. The jerseys and a few of the names are the same, but this isn't a contender and it's barely a team.

Spurs exploit Suns awful D

2009-01-29T21:56:00.000-08:00

When your toughest defensive player is a 36-year-old on a reconstructed ankle, you have a roster of ~~bums~~ offensive players. Watching the Suns refuse to play help defense on countless Tony Parker forays into the lane- just made it a matter of time. A matter of time until the Spurs made a run and Suns folded.

Terry Porter, hacking Bruce Bowen makes no sense- especially in a TIE GAME. Sure he's shooting 28 percent. He shot more free throws in this game than he had all season. Way to kill any momentum you had. Here's a thought. When the Spurs hack Shaq, they kill your offensive rhythm and then attack your weak defense. When you hack Bowen, he hits and the Spurs (a defensive team) can set their defense without a transition. Not a good strategy.

This was painful to watch because just like in the past, it was just waiting for the Spurs to snatch the game away. The Suns are to Duncan's Spurs what the Cavs were to Jordan's Bulls: foils.

Mark Price :: Steve Nash
Craig Ehlo :: Raja Bell
Larry Nance :: Amare Stoudmire
Chris Dudley's free throws :: Shaq's free throws
Unproven Steve Kerr :: Unproven Steve Kerr

The Suns can't finish 7 or 8 and expect to beat LA or the Spurs in the first round. If this team is truly built for the playoffs (doubtful at this point), they need to start jockeying for position now. If they can't beat teams that are tougher and proven, they need to beat down the bad teams. There is no boon in missing the playoffs. The 9th team in the West has no chance in the lottery and won't pick any higher than 14 because the Eastern also-rans are much worse. This team won't have the ability to blow it up or rebuild until 2010. So the time is now. These players have to put forth their best effort to look like they care to win a title when they lack the ingredients to actually achieve it. For a list of what those ingredients are, start listing the strengths of the San Antonio Spurs.

Suns Hawks game notes

2009-01-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

1ST HALF
Amare is somewhere else. 5 turnovers. Why doesn't Porter sit him?

Mike Bibby's headband is so big. It looks like he has a head injury and he's wearing a bandage.

Joe Johnson starting to heat up. Grant Hill isn't guarding him despite forcing him into 4-21 when these teams played a couple weeks ago.

Flip Murray getting it going against the Suns again.

When Josh Smith posts Amare he spins middle into a left-handed shot. EVERY TIME. What does Stoudemire do to defend it? Nothing. He isn't aware a lefty is going to his strong hand.

Hawks are piling up the fouls trying to guard Shaq.

Suns shoot 63 percent in the first half but are trailing by two- 14 turnovers.

2ND HALF
Stoudemire appears to have woken up and the offense is focused on getting him going.

Josh Smith continue to beat Amare to rebounds.

Some tough foul calls on Grant Hill have him with four after picking up a call on a defensive rotation. How is it a 36-year-old is the toughest defender on the team?

Blown call on an obvious trip. Terry Porter complains and gets a technical foul. I love when refs compound their mistakes by T-ing up a someone who holds them accountable.

WIth Nash out, the offense just becomes one on one.

LB has it going tonight. Maybe Matt Barnes complaining about their minutes worked.

Josh Smith uses his right hand in the post and misses. Let's see if Amare picks up on it.

Soloman Jones is apparently Dwyane Wade. He gets generous calls against two veteran players. Grant Hill picks up his fifth on a clear charge. Shaq picks up his fourth on a Jones diving flop.

Josh Smith on the block again, spins into the right-hand layup and tries switching to the left at the last minute and misses. Reluctant to credit Amare defense but Smith really needs to develop a right hand

Amare acting tough toward Zaza Pechulia after a normal foul. Quit crying you big baby.

LB huge three.

Mike (who was 1-10) hits a huge three.

Amare has JJ on him and settles for a jumper. Miss.

Terrible help defense on pick n roll. Soloman Jones left wide open for dunk.

LB turnover, Hawks miss two layups.

Shaq has little guy on him and goes right to the rim. Misses shot that hangs on the rim for a week. Hits two free throws

Nash with a travel. 19 turnovers.

Amare with rebound after it hits the floor. Amare passes to LB for another huge three.

Nash bad pass. 20 turnovers.

Amare misses open jumper than could have given Suns a six point lead. LB steal. Shaq holds ball too long for 24 second violation. Does anyone want to win this game?

Shaq loose ball foul, tosses Marvin Williams and a waiter into the front row.

Hawks haven't scored in 5 minutes. LB fouls to prevent layup, Soloman Jones calmly drops two free throws. Suns up 2.

Nash to Stoudemire, layup and 1. 26.6 left. Not sure if someone said something to him at halftime but he has been a different player.

As awful as the Suns perimeter can be, it's been good tonight. Mike Bibby 2-13, Joe Johnson 5-20.

Suns won this one on defense. This game was hard fought and Stoudemire and LB hit big shots in the fourth. Still a chance to salvage this road trip with a win in Washington tomorrow.

Lottery Bound?

2009-01-23T17:55:00.000-08:00

It makes me sad to say this: the Suns have become unwatchable. It really seems like players are lost or they quit. The lack of intensity is so obvious that other teams' announcers are troubleshooting the Suns.

Amare ends up starting the All Star Game and celebrates by getting torched by Boris Diaw, his former overpaid backup.

As the losses mount (3 straight, 5 out of 6), it's becoming clearer this group is awful defensively. Offensively they're totally dependent on Shaq and while Nash has been a trooper sacrificing shots- the loss of his offense is killing the team.

Terry Porter needs to reach into the coaching bags of tricks and find something to stop this free fall. Do something to save this team!

Is Amare a franchise player?

2009-01-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

The stinker against the Celtics is festering on my DVR and I really can't bring my self to watch it. The box score said reactions said enough. Sure, it was the team's fourth game in five nights and the previous three were tightly contested battles. Sure it's tough to beat the champs on their home floor. But this team has four former All Stars who've been 1st team All NBA, 2 former MVPS, a 2 time Slam Dunk champ, a Sixth Man of the Year, young role players and veterans who'll scrap and hustle. The pedigree isn't helping on the court though.

While there are several teams who'd love to have the Suns' record, they are laboring to get wins and their playoff position is precarious. I doubt many coaches would want to trade places with Terry Porter. He's the coaching equivalent of Pete Myers bringing his style and game to good team only to be filling some giant shoes after the franchise's best run of success. While I am not one to long for the D'Antoni days, I recognize that Porter is trying to win with D'Antoni's players, Steve Kerr's compromised vision and Robert Sarver's budget. That's a tough task but the team's bad defense and inconsistency is showing there is still some resistance to Porter's methods.

The biggest disappointment at the moment is Amare Stoudemire. While the Shaq trade seemed to bring out the best in him last year, that player seems to be gone. He has taken cues from Shaq in the big talk but unlike the 4-time champ- he is not backing it up. Just a couple months ago, people were speculating about Amare's 2010 possibilities, now I'm sure there's a contingent of fans who'd be content to see him walk or traded.

Watching Amare is slowly convincing me that he isn't a player to build around. Granted it took me a couple years to be sold on Amare anyway but all the reservations are coming back. He's a bad help defender, he doesn't close out on jump shooters, he's a poor defensive rebounder, he doesn't ever seem to bend over for loose balls and his aggressiveness seems to be on the wane. I know you've seen it too. Not just the tendency to settle for a bunch of jumpers, it's the body language when someone else has it going. He shrinks from the action. In games where he picks up early fouls, he completely disappears. What type of franchise player plays like that?

I think the answer is pretty clear. The Suns don't have a franchise player. If it were up for discussion, it's Nash or Shaq. That's not a promising prospect given that both players are capable but on the decline. This team is loaded with talent but the lack of sacrifice, especially on defense is appalling. The only starter willing to sacrifice offense to try and shutdown his man and make the little plays is Grant Hill. If Amare is having a tough night, he pouts and shrinks. I've watched too many big men over the years fix themselves on another aspect of the game when their shot goes missing. Amare doesn't do that and seems unwilling to hustle more when things are going badly. He has no problem throwing tantrums and getting technical fouls though.

I think a wake up call is coming Thursday night when the All Star starters are announced and Amare misses out. Billboards in China are one thing, playing on the big stage in China is another. This is a year dominated by guys who were on the Olympic team. While I thought it made sense that he skipped Beijing given the wear and tear on his surgically repaired knees the last few years, perhaps letting down Jerry Colangelo was a mistake. All the current MVP candidates were Olympians and each seems to have added intensity or improved an aspect of his game. I think that can be attributed to working with the best every day in practice. When I see Kobe playing with pain, Lebron dominating on defense, Chris Paul carrying his team with injured starters, Dwight Howard putting up 20/20 games and Dwyane Wade just willing a bad team into the playoff chase- I don't see Amare in the same class of player.

Amare has improved aspects of his game. His passing is better for instance but that's still on offense. On the defensive end, Amare said he wants to be like Ron Artest. He's only succeeding in that he comes off as a head case to fans and a complementary player full of potential to help win big or cripple a team with his drama.

New Year's Resolutions for the Phoenix Suns

2008-12-31T22:21:00.000-08:00

FIrst I want to wish you all a prosperous and healthy 2009.

Here's some resolutions for Phoenix Suns.

1. Cut back on the turnovers
The Suns lead the league in turnovers which now that they play at a slower pace is much more harmful.

2. Commit to defense in practice
The Suns defensive improvement doesn't mean they need to be the 1989 Detroit Pistons. It means they need to be consistent enough to get stops when they need them. Those one or two plays that can be the difference between a win and a loss. Or in the West, the difference between a 6 seed and a 3 seed like last year.

3. Improve the perimeter defense
Dwyane Wade, Devin Harris, Russell Westbrook... Stop letting guards go for career nights.

4. Get Jared Dudley on the court.
Yes he's an hustle role player. On a team with future Hall of Famers and former All Stars, the hustle guys will make an impact that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

5. Unleash LB
After four years of the D'Antoni Clockwork Planet Orange, we've grown used to his rotations. Now we see him go long period with starters and seemingly odd substitution patterns that seem to leave players gassed at key times. LB isn't a point guard but that's where he's getting minutes. Fortunately, he's getting his game back after a rough personal period. He's a legitimate advantage when he has the green light. On a second unit that is painfully inconsistent, we need him to explode.

6. Stop whining about not running.
It's basketball. When it's there- push it. If teams don't double team Shaq- punish them. Shaq gets shooters open, he gets teams in the penalty and he dunks a lot. Exploit mismatches and keep the unselfish attitude that made the team so good in previous years.

7. Keep smiling
You get paid millions of dollars to play basketball. There are a lot of people who are hurting financially and sports can be a nice distraction. There's no pressure to win a championship in Phoenix. But I think we all agree, the day it happens we will party on a level unseen since ancient Rome

8. Beat LA
The Suns do have some quality wins but before we can focus on the playoffs (or at least making the playoffs in the brutal West), we need a good win over the Lakers.

9. Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit (like Shaq says: "Google it")
The Suns' nationally televised Christmas game was a heartbreaker but Suns fans at home were far more pissed watching ESPN's awful coverage. Listening to Mike Wilbon and Jon Barry skewer the Suns was awful. Jon Barry (who never won a championship) lit into the Suns like he should be coaching them. Mike Wilbon kept the vibe going like he was on PTI flapping his gums about how the Suns don't know who they are and blah blah blah. Make no mistake about it the good folks at ABC/ESPN want another Lakers/Celtics Finals. The sickening thing about it (especially to my fellow journalists out there) is that they try to glaze over this with their studio shows with lame ex-jocks and TV personality journalists talking about the inevitability of LA and Boston in the Finals. ESPN is journalism just as much as MTV is music journalism. It's a great package of stories to hype LeBron and Steve Nash in New York but it's shady when you present that speculation as news. ABC/ESPN is the league's broadcast partner and they have a heavy financial stake in seeing a particular matchup in the Finals. Lakers and Celtics last year was a ratings boon for a league coming off a 2007 with a referee gambling scandal, complaints about archaic rules, and a dumb playoff seeding system that gave us the worst NBA Finals in recent memory. When you hear non-NBA fans compare it to the WWE, this is where it comes from. We've heard nothing but Lakers and Celtics since the Gasol ~~trade~~ donation last year and we won't hear anything but unless Kobe quits basketball to open a pizzeria or the Celtics big three is kidnapped by James Dolan. It'd be fun to see a team destroy the mountain of hype between Boston and LA. It'd be fun to see a team go under the radar all season, turn it on in the playoffs and put together a run for the ages. That'd make 2009 a memorable year indeed.

Suns get J-Rich in blockbuster trade

2008-12-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

The Phoenix Suns' transition from the Mike D'Antoni era to the Steve Kerr's reign of terror continues. The Suns traded Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary to the Charlotte Bobcats for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a 2nd round draft pick in 2010.

As much as I like Raja and what he brought to this team, I love this trade. The Suns get something they desperately needed- an athletic guard who can create his own shot. Richardson fits the bill perfectly. He's won the Slam Dunk contest and he's got endless range. Upgrade. Now he has a much bigger contract than Bell but there's where Boris comes in.

It's no secret Boris has become an overpaid joke. $9 million bench players who pass too much don't endear themselves to fans or teammates. Boris can find new party spots in Charlotte and figure out what real accountability is once he suits up for Larry Brown.

We also get Jared Dudley, who I really like as a role player for this team. I watch a lot of ACC basketball so I've seen this guy grow as a player. He's got a high basketball IQ and great tenacity. He's a true role player who won't hurt the team when he's on the floor. Losing Sean Singletary only hurts if the team can't sign another veteran point guard. They have two weeks to add a 13th player to the roster. The draft pick figures to be good, if the Bobcats stink next year an early second round pick is probably a first-round talent.

So on paper, this trade looks great but it all comes down to how the chemistry develops. Chemistry has been the big issue this season and it's the reason Bell and Diaw have new addresses. The heart and soul or D'Antoni's teams (Bell) and his biggest failure as a GM (Diaw) are gone. Kerr has made it clear he will give his coach a roster that will play the way they want.

I've written in the past, I'm weary of players coming from losing teams to winning teams. Their numbers are often gaudy but they come from a culture of losing. In this case, I think it's different. Richardson was instrumental (along with Matt Barnes) in Golden State's resurgence and was part of the team that ousted 67 win Dallas in the first round. Plus J-Rich is hungry. He's on a winning team again that wants what he brings to the table. Dudley will battle and definitely comes across as guy who'll love playing with guys like Steve Nash and Grant Hill.

With the hard-fought win against Utah and the offensive explosion against the Bucks, the Suns are showing signs of life after the 4-game losing streak. The play and body language has improved. The team is extremely shorthanded against the Lakers tonight so we'll toss that game out but the next 20 games will be interesting to watch.

It sucks to see players you like leave, but the NBA is a business and the Suns got younger with two classy, professional players to improve chemistry. Steve Kerr is making moves to try and craft a winner. Let's see if this puts the Suns back in the Western elite. With J-Rich, Amare and Nash on the break, they're definitely going to be fun to watch.

UPDATE: The Suns battled tonight against the Lakers. Love the energy they showed with only 8 players in uniform.

Nets scorch Suns, road trip looms

2008-11-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

So the Suns started well and then turned into the D'Antoni Suns in the fourth quarter. They gave up 43 points in the fourth.

Once again a quick guard dropped 40 on the Suns. Devin Harris had 47 points and 8 assists.

The Suns got nothing from their bench and Boris Diaw singlehandedly got the Nets back into the game. Boris, if you have an open layup don't fire a pass to the Nets coach. According to the nba.com boxscore Boris was -28 when he was on the court.

The Suns revamped defense couldn't get a stop when it mattered in a game they needed to win.

Amare got ejected at the worst possible time. If you want to be the featured guy, you can't help from the locker room.

The officiating was bad but the Suns lack of ball control did them in again. 21 turnovers.

With New Orleans, Dallas and Utah looming, the Suns are about to be seriously tested. Terry Porter will have to do some serious coaching. The team came out with energy and toughness only to wilt when it mattered. The bench did nothing and were forced to hold a lead after the starters played the entire third quarter.

Suns head out on the road now. They dropped five of their first nine home games. Not sure which direction the team is heading regardless of how early in the season it is.

A few thoughts...

2008-11-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

Much like the Suns, I've been forced to curtail my high-speed ways. AT&T didn't feel I needed internet so I've been unable to post much.

So 17 games into the season, the Suns (11-6) have shown us quite a bit. The off-season changes have changed the identity of the team. At times we see a team that can be successful in the playoffs. Other times we see a team that could use an infusion of youth via trades and the lottery.

Steve Nash is struggling in his new role. He's being encouraged to run the break but also run the half court offense through Shaquille O'Neal. Nash is averaging 8 assists a game and 3.8 turnovers. He just doesn't look like the same player.

He has shown flashes of being his MVP self. When he took over the game against the Thunder and refused to let the Suns lose, it made me wonder why doesn't Porter just let him just run the team. Then I remembered Shaq wasn't playing that night.

Shaquille O'Neal has been good. He's been good around the basket, passes really well out of double teams and has brought a tangible toughness to the team.

Focusing so much on O'Neal has rendered portions of the regular season useless. Shaq needs rest, so the team is resting him during back-to-back sets.

Suspensions, injuries, bereavement and poor play have changed the rotation on a nightly basis.

The lack of continuity has been a major issue for this team given the concrete rotation and rhythm play of previous years.

Amare Stoudemire (excuse me Amar'e) is a hard player to figure out. He has one of the best games I've seen from any player in Indiana. Then has three disappearing acts against the Grizzlies, Rockets and Kings. Do you remember the last time he had a double double? It was against Detroit November 16.

Amar'e's inconsistent rebounding is part of a larger problem of late. Good defense, poor rebounding. The Thunder and T-Wolves grabbed 15 and 21 OFFENSIVE rebounds respectively. Two of the worst teams in the league hung around with the Suns because they were given multiple chances to score.

More chances are also a result of turnovers. The Suns lead (trail?) the league in turnovers. Until Friday's mess versus Miami, it was Boston. Since Boston is 5th best in forcing turnovers and the Suns are second worst- I think it is safe to say the Suns are the worst ball control team in the league at this point.

ESPN turned the annoying focus of the Summer of 2010 toward Phoenix this week with Stephen A. Smith's article about Stoudemire's potential departure from the Suns.

While it's rather ridiculous to speculate about TWO years from now, it is interesting because cash will likely change the balance of power in the league. Phoenix will have a ton of cash to spend but could potentially turn into the Clippers- a team in a warm city with money to spend that nobody wants to play for.

The next two years will be interesting because not only are teams weary of the Lakers dominating the league but also weary of losing their star players to big bidders. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires after the 2010-11 season so the cash grab that summer will be the last under the current system. We'll hear for more about business than simple wins and losses.

The fact remains Shaquille O'Neal is the only max free agent signee to lead his new team to a title. Teams will be looking for combos in 2010 and stars like Amar'e, Chris Bosh and Dirk will be hearing about forming new dynamic duos along with players like LeBron or D-Wade. The talk won't go away. So let's hope for the best now. Hopefully the Phoenix Suns can be a destination rather than a victim of mass exodus.

The Suns have found a way to win games but they are far from a finished product. There are complaints about Porter's approach from his players that he defuses with pretty decent logic. He wants the Suns to run after stops instead of makes. He points out players get great touches in the offense but often miss shots or turn it over.

For all the moaning and analysis, the Suns are in the thick of the Western race. They don't have many quality wins but there are positives to build on. 82 games is a long time.

Whatever the Suns are supposed to be, they aren't very good at it at this point.

The Suns don't seem to fully trust one another and only more games and strong performances can remedy that.

Unlocking The Fire

2008-11-08T21:55:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a moment to take a step back and take a good look at Amare Stoudemire right now. It's sometimes difficult to look at him as a player in an objective light... a lot of people have been predispositioned to dislike him based on the common belief system regarding his defense, (Which isn't as bad as you think) whereas most people have a hard time giving him a lot of credit for what he does on the offensive end. (Trust me, it's not like he gets 12 dunks a game that are spoon fed to him by Nash, though that notion has faded some over time.) Take a quick jump back to middle ground, that includes you Suns homers too, and take a quick, yet objective, look at what Amare Stoudemire has done through the first seven games of the season...

Through the first 6 games he averaged 25.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1 BPG in 38.2 minutes a game. He did this on an absolutely unreal 67.1 FG%, also shooting 86% from the free throw line. Now that, in and of itself, is a hell of a statline, but if you start looking at putting his scoring numbers into perspective, he is averaging 25.8 points a game on 13.2 shots a game. That is 1.95~ points per shot. Looking at it another way, Amare is #6 in points per game behind Tony Parker (27.4), Danny Granger (27.2), Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan and LeBron James (26.0). Let's make a little visual representation of the efficiency of the people ahead of him as compared to Amare...

Player	PPG	FGA/G	Points Per Shot
Tony Parker	27.4	19.8	1.38383838383838
Danny Granger	27.2	17.8	1.52808988764045
Chris Bosh	26	17.8	1.46067415730337
Tim Duncan	26	19.4	1.34020618556701
LeBron James	26	19.7	1.31979695431472
Amare Stoudemire	25.8	13.2	1.95454545454545

Take a good long look at that. The closest person to Amare in there is 4.6 shots per game higher than Amare. The closest person to him in points per shot is just shy of .43 per attempt lower than him. Not only is Amare scoring in rather astonishing volumes, he's doing it at historic level efficiency. (And once the game from tonight against the Bucks registers, it will be even crazier, as he had a somewhat surreal 24 points on 8 shots.) Oh yeah, and he's leading the league in True Shooting %. Go figure.

However, Amare's scoring prowess is well documented, and while it's even more ridiculous than normal, it still doesn't shock and awe Suns fans and skeptical critics. What is interesting is his apparent willingness to be unselfish and make good passes. While his turnovers to assist ratio is nothing to be proud of, he has significantly increased his assist totals this year and is visibly making better decisions on the offensive end. He's not just being a finisher or scorer, he's rounding into a more complete offensive player.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the season, however, is Amare's focus on the defensive end. Terry Porter must have got a hold of him and shook him or something, because he is clearly playing better off ball defense this year. He's playing passing lanes, contesting shots and, perhaps most importantly, not picking up stupid fouls that take him out of the offensive end of the game. You combine this with the fact that he's doing a better job boxing his man out (instead of flying around trying to snatch the rebound), and pulling down the contested rebounds that we really need on the defensive end. His 9.3 RPG isn't a particularly impressive number, but you watch him play and you can see the difference in his attitude on the defensive end. it's refreshing, and frankly, about damn time.

Beast Mode Activated

2008-11-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

Amare's line vs Indiana: 49 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 17-21 FG, 15-15 FT

I'll post more later...

Vets get a day off

2008-10-31T21:23:00.000-07:00

Suns are trying to build chemistry at the moment.
Guys are confused and turning the ball over... a lot.
They got torched in their home opener by a good team.
The Hornets are very similar to Phoenix at their D'Antoni peak.
They can be guarded and they will miss shots.
Plenty of usable stuff in the game film.

As for the Blazers, they are coming off an emotional win over the Spurs.
The back to back won't be fun for Portland.
I think Nash will make plays and the veterans will follow suit.
The kids will make the most of their minutes.
Once the cloud of season-opening hype and analysis passes, the Suns can continue the process of becoming who they'll be... with more focus.
Fewer people in their ears and a lot more time with the coaches.
Bill Cartwright and Steve Kerr both won 3 titles win Jordan.
Terry Porter saw Flip Saunders mistakes with the Detroit Pistons.

Coaches have a lot of interesting things to say.
On Amare Stoudemire: "He's not a great player," one member of Team USA's staff said in Beijing. "He makes great plays. There's a difference."
The process of this coaching staff getting these players' attention... to build a consistent ferocious effort around their strategy... to accept new roles... to fully commit to each other... is the most interesting aspect of this team to me.

Nash's assist to turnover ratio will an interesting stat to watch.
The barometer for losses last year was turnovers.
The Suns will need to be efficient because there will be fewer possessions in their new scheme.
Teams will try to outrun them... at their peril.
I hope Nash has an Isiah Thomas mode.

This team needs Alando Tucker to get healthy..
He's a bruiser who attacks the basket and draws fouls.
He's a winner and he'll find a way to give the Suns an advantage.

Looking forward to the matchup tonight.
The Blazers go deep on their bench, so we might see some interesting matchups.

Go Suns!

10/29 - Phoenix @ San Antonio

2008-10-29T21:08:00.000-07:00

Suns 103, Spurs 98

I can't think of a single thing that could be more appropriate than starting the season off with a win against the Spurs. If I were to make a list of the stuff I wanted to happen tonight, "Suns winning." would be right at the top, just about "Amare gets 60 points and 30 rebounds." (That one didn't happen.)

What did we see in the first game of the regular season out of the Suns? Well, for one, a solid team defensive concept. This had been strangely lacking for the past... roughly four years, and it's refreshing. While the Suns aren't jam packed with solid individual defenders (or team defenders... or defenders...), they made the right rotations and you didn't see an awful lot of easy points out of the Spurs outside of the occasional defensive lapse. (Barbosa still sucks at off-ball defense and Shaq still hits people. The more things change, the more they stay the same.)

We got good nights out of quite a few players, chiefly Amare Stoudemire who absolutely carried the Suns down the stretch. He managed 22 points on just 11 shots (8/11 FG, 6/8 FT), plus he chippd in 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block. He also made some good hustle plays down the stretch (tracked down a loose ball), made some very heady passes (didn't end up as assists, but they easily could have been), and most importantly imposed his will on the defense when it counted most.

Nash and Shaq both had excellent games as well, with Nash distributing the ball and controlling the pace the entire time he was in the game. He finished with 13 points (5/11 FG, 2/4 3PT, 1/2 FT), 13 assists and 2 rebounds... plus ... a block! (Gasp!) Nash also proved tonight that the Suns will still be running the floor and getting fast break points, and while the pace was slower, Nash will still be Nash with Terry Porter coaching. The Big Shaqtus also had a nice game tonight with 15 points (5/10 FG, 5/8 FT), 13 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks in 30 minutes. Shaq seems to be in reasonably good shape and, while he is certainly still not very mobile, he is making the right rotations on defense and challenging shots once they get to the rim. (He's also fouling people at an alarming rate... might want to watch that.)

Our supplementary characters in this big book we call basketball came up big tonight also. Starring off the bench we had Leandro and Grant come up with big games, contributing majorly off the bench and coming up big during various stretches of the game. (They had 31 of our 42 bench points!) Leandro managed 18 points in 27 minutes (6/14 FG, 2/3 3PT, 4/5 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, a steal, and rather importantly, NO turnovers. He also had a big jumpshot down the stretch and clinched the game with two free throws at the end of the game. Grant, on the other hand, made his impact early on in the game, as his 13 points (6/8 FG, 1/1 3PT), 2 rebounds and 2 steals. When the 2nd unit came out, Grant did a good job attacking the basket an making the plays the Suns needed, when they needed.

Also of note, Matt Barnes managed 7 points (3/10 FG, 1/4 3PT), 7 rebounds, and an assist in 19 minutes during his starting role while playing excellent defense and generally being active. His shooting should improve as he syncs up with the team, but I liked what I saw out of him. Boris Diaw came out and actually shot a few times, looked good while he was in, and didn't once piss me off while he was out there. Usually he has at least one "WHAT THE HELL!" moment per game... but not this one!

On the rookie front, Goran Dragic and Robin Lopez both got some quality minutes during the game and, while not impressive, certainly showed potential. (I'm consoling myself, leave me be.) I liked what I saw out of Robin Lopez especially, (3 points, 2 rebounds and a block in 9 minutes) while I know that there will be a hell of a learning curve for Goran Dragic (0 points, 2 assists, 3 foul and a turnover in 14 minutes) and he looks like after he manages to adjust to the NBA game he could definitely be a rotation player and potentially even a starter.

First impressions on Terry Porter: YEAAAAAAAAAAH! WHAT? OKAY! I'm impressed thus far. Too early to tell, but that's why I prefaced it with "First impressions". I'm also hopelessly optimistic about everything Suns related.

Expectations for the season: I'm expecting an 82-0 record, Amare to be the MVP, Terry Porter to be the COY, Leandro to be the 6th Man of the Year again, Robin Lopez to be the ROY, and a quick 16 game playoff run that ends with a Suns championship.

Supplementary Info: Tony Parker and Tim Duncan killed us. Bad. In the head. Luckily, no one else did.

Die Hard: 2008-09 Phoenix Suns Season Preview

2008-10-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

"I’m doing the game on TV for Euro Sport here and I hear someone is saying that they should’ve put Amare Stoudemire on this team instead of Tayshaun Prince. I mean, are you crazy? You want a prima donna instead of a team guy like Prince who only cares about winning? I mean, just shut up. You are out of your mind." Analyst Dan Peterson

Charles Barkley: "I love Steve Nash, but this is Chris Paul's and Deron Williams' league right now. I always say that Chris Paul is driving and Deron Williams is in the back seat."
Reggie Miller: "Where's Steve Nash?"
Barkley: "He's in the trunk."

"It's official. Shaquille O'Neal, he of the decaying body, decreased stamina, excess ego, and limited effectiveness, is not long for this league." Bethlehem Shoals

"Someone should clue in the Big Au Revoir, and others closer to sports dusk than dawn, that the old show-biz ethic -- Always leave 'em wanting more -- means after you're done, not while you're still on stage." Steve Aschburner

"Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time." Malcolm X

The last four years have been exciting and our team became a critical darling. However after a few crushing playoff defeats, the reviews have turned negative. We've turned from a Spielberg blockbuster into Leonard Part 6. The Suns are down in the polls. Sports writers are writing eulogies. In reality, the only thing that is dying is the hype. This team is building a new identity. The organization wants to move from winner to champion. This team's legacy is to rise from defeat. Reborn.

The universe revolves around the Sun. Like the planets and moons keeping orbit, the Suns' fortunes revolve around the big body in the middle.

Shaq. You've got more haters than George W. Bush. One request before you start to totally commit your mind to owning the Magic, wealth protection and a plush pad in Sun City. Think about what it would take for you to take a run at averaging 20 rebounds a game in a playoff series. Can you be satisfied with lobs, offensive rebounds and maybe 4 or 5 plays called for you? Could you be like 1972 Wilt? If the regular season is a long warmup for the playoffs, can you train to dominate?

Steve Nash. You know what would be fun? Running the break in the NBA Finals. The games would live forever on Tivo and iPhones. You'd be the Ron Jeremy of training tapes.

Amare. You have to capture the imagination of the youth. Yo Gabba Gabba is fun for toddlers but teenagers like championships and colorful shoes. Win the MVP of something beside the rookie/sophomore game. Play some defense. Don't be a star. Be Great.

As for the rest of the roster. This band of pirates, gamblers, politicians, intellectuals, carpenters and closeted Barry Manilow fans are ready for adventure. Magic 8-ball says: Raja Bell spends most the season auditioning for a role in Ocean's 14, replacing Bernie Mac. Leandro Barbosa reveals he speaks perfect english and appears in an E-Harmony commercial. Grant Hill travels everywhere by Segway- they make a deluxe model called the Grant. Alando Tucker forces his way in the rotation, Coach Porter starts calling him Tuck. Robin Lopez becomes the most 4th popular athlete in Phoenix, sponsors youth an AAU basketball team that wins a national championship. Goran Dragic, plays like Rondo... but lefthanded. Matt Barnes has a great season and earns a nice contract to stay in town for a while. Boris Diaw stars in tektonic dance video on youTube, rebounds better but still passes too much. Guys with long names get a few minutes, fans clamor they deserve more.

So what do we fans have to look forwardto this year? How about another year of enjoyable NBA basketball. I'll hold off on predictions and just really try to enjoy this season. I'm excited for the season to start. Rather than make excuses I've just listened to all the Spurs fans around me make them. I'd love for the Suns to win the title. I want to throw a sick championship party. I'd love for the Suns to be the first team to do a meet and great with President Obama, an avowed hoops fan.

Times are tough and we can find some inspiration in sports. While I hope the Suns can give us a season of excitement and fun, I think we as a fanbase can inspire our team. For you fortunate folks in the expensive seats at the US Airways Center, be louder than you've ever been. Yell for the sake of yelling and make it miserable for the road team. You should need a lozenge after the game. For you folks in upper ring, watch a few soccer matches and take notes. Be festive. Make our bench feel appreciated and loved. Give the Suns a tangible home-court advantage and enjoy yourselves. For distant Suns fans who have to travel to San Antonio, Milwaukee or Orlando to see the team, get booed at the arena. Wear your purple and orange with pride.

So my theme for this season is Die Hard. This season is for the Die Hard fans. The folks who'll keep rooting for the Suns through it all and who'll love it the most when we get that first ring. Hopefully the Suns will show some John McClane perseverance through all the challenges this season. Hopefully the Phoenix Suns will be the team that's the hardest to finish off. If they can do that, regardless of when the season ends- we'll be inspired.

Hans Gruber: You know my name but who are you? Just another American who saw too many movies as a child? Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he's John Wayne? Rambo? Marshal Dillon?
John McClane: Was always kinda partial to Roy Rogers actually. I really like those sequined shirts.
Hans Gruber: Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mr. Cowboy?
John McClane: Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.

The Greatest Pre-Preseason Preview Ever!

2008-10-06T00:49:00.001-07:00

It's that time again, and it's time for another preview to the upcoming season! Following the disappointing first round loss to the rather cantankerous set of Spurs that keep getting thrown at us, Suns fans have been less than optimistic about the upcoming season. I, however, will have to respectfully disagree, as I'm looking forward to the Suns next tear through the regular season leading to the inevitable raising of the 2009 NBA Champion banner in Phoenix. (I told you I was optimistic! Maybe a bit deluded, but optimistic all the same.)

We all know the Suns are putting themselves in position to make at least one more title run, the 08-09 season may be the last productive season we see out of Shaq, (Not relative to salary, mind you, but productive nonetheless...) and maybe 09-10 if Jesus loves us enough. (Not so sure on that one either.) That leaves us with a two year window for a championship run with the core we have right now and, realistically, this year is our last serious chance to put another ring on Shaq's finger, plus maybe get some rings for the rest of the guys too.

The Situation

Going into the preseason, coming out of training camp, we've been greeted with a plethora of interesting information. Some good, (We signed Dragic! Robin Lopez has been playing excellent!) some bad, (Amare hurt his ankle. Then his eye. He also might start wearing goggles, which is awful!) some that really might not matter an awful lot either way... (Amare was on a Nickelodeon show! Steve Nash and Baron Davis made a movie!) The most important part about this offseason, however, would definitely be the pieces we added (Both player and coaching) combined with the fact that the team will be together for training camp. The offseason addition of Matt Barnes should, by all accounts, be absolutely fantastic. He provides an active defender, someone who can handle the ball, make the right play on offense, shoot from deep, and has played in a fast paced team at a high level for multiple seasons now. The addition of Robin Lopez, on the other hand, will give us an ulta-active legit seven footer who can change the game inside with his shot blocking and activity, plus has apparently shown a fairly nice little interior offensive post game. The duo of rookie point guards (Sean Singletary and Goran Dragic.) should be battling to show what they can do, as both have demonstrated that they are legitimate pass first point guards who will work hard to improve their game. (Dragic is a bit more refined offensively while Singletary was a fairly good defender, especially at the point guard, while in college and should be able to translate that to the NBA.) Louis Amundson should fill our "Goofy white guy at the end of the bench" spot that we needed to fill quite well, also, and if he plays his cards right he may end up being roughly half as cool as Pat Burke.

The Expectations

It's a bit odd to try to make a prediction having not seen any preseason basketball to this point, not knowing our new head coaches tendencies, (I have rather high expectations our of new head coach, Terry Porter looks to be an amazing coach on both ends of the floor...) or even knowing how much of a difference in player roles will be present... but let's have fun with this thing and try to get it right!

Depth Chart
Position	Starter	Backup	Reserves
PG	Steve Nash	Leandro Barbosa	Goran Dragic, Sean Singletary, Boris Diaw
SG	Raja Bell	Leandro Barbosa	Matt Barnes, Alando Tucker, Grant Hill
SF	Grant Hill	Matt Barnes, Boris Diaw	Alando Tucker
PF	Amare Stoudemire	Boris Diaw	Robin Lopez, Alando Tucker, Louis Amundson
C	Shaquille O'Neal	Robin Lopez	Amare Stoudemire, Boris Diaw, Louis Amundson

Projected Minutes
Position	Minutes
PG	Steve Nash (30), Leandro Barbosa (12), Sean Singletary/Goran Dragic (6)
SG	Raja Bell (26), Leandro Barbosa (14), Matt Barnes (8)
SF	Grant Hill (24), Matt Barnes (16), Boris Diaw (8)
PF	Amare Stoudemire (36), Boris Diaw (12)
C	Shaquille O'Neal (26), Robin Lopez (18), Boris Diaw (4)

These are somewhat optimistic. I'm assuming Terry Porter is resting the geriatric patients on our team, as the reports have stated, in hopes for the playoffs. I'm assuming Robin Lopez is getting significant minutes. (I sincerely hope he does, especially when Amare is in with him.) I'm assuming Raja and Boris will have reduced roles with the team, and possibly Leandro. (D'Antoni's pet players/projects.) Most of all, I'm assuming that I'm going to end up being wildly inaccurate after we have a big surprise from one of the players that are down a ways in the depth chart. (I'm hoping Alando Tucker...)

Well, that's what I expect. Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject, interesting updates, or just to tear ruthlessly into my writing, whatever strikes your fancy. First preseason game is on Wednesday, October 8th! I wish you a happy preseason, and a merry regular season for all!

Getting ready for training camp

2008-09-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hey Suns fans, I'm sure you're ready for the season to start. We'll have more content in the coming weeks.

I'm finishing up my season preview. You can reread last year's reflect on how things have changed and laugh at my prognostication skills.

We're doing a fantasy league this year. I a created league on ESPN. Click HERE and search for 'The Rising Suns' to join. I setup the draft for Oct. 18 at 4 pm. You'll need to setup a profile on ESPN to join. (If you're in the private league I created: IT'S ON!)

I do want to apologize for the lack of content last year. Much like the 07-08 Suns I've recommitted to enjoying the journey and having more fun. The content I write for the site will reflect that commitment and hopefully will not lead to an unexpected trade to another blog. There will be much more frequent updates so feel free to blow up our comment sections.

Last season ended really poorly and I got to see it first hand with a couple of fun but disappointing trips to San Antonio. Game 1 was the first NBA playoff game I'd ever been to. Much like the last 40 years- it was a heartbreaker. So in some small measure this site will serve as a support group for Heartbroken Suns fans. You're not alone. Now that the bandwagon has some wobbly wheels, we die-hards have to stick together.